Hot Tub Filters: When to Clean, When to Change, and How

One of the most important elements to keeping your hot tub water clean is your filter. Hot tub filters keep debris, dust, dirt, and even some bacterias from interfering with your hot tub experience. For the best, most effective hot tub filters, you must clean and change them regularly. Here’s a guide to keeping your filters clean and how to do so.

For clean and functioning filters, there are three time periods to remember: 2-3 weeks, 2-3 months, and once a year. If you follow these short instructions for each of these periods, your filter and hot tub will stay clean and last longer.

2-3 Weeks: A Quick Rinse and Inspection.

While doing your regular inspection of your hot tub, you should remove your filter from the pool and rinse it with a garden hose to release larger debris such as hair and leaves. This is a quick process just to keep your filter functional between more serious cleanings.

2-3 Months: Thorough Cleaning

This is the time when you’ll want to remove the filter and perform a more thorough cleaning. We recommend keeping a clean filter on hand to replace with your dirty one. This extends the life of both filters as well as allows you to use your hot tub without waiting a day.

To clean your filter:

First, we recommend to reference your “Special Operating Instructions” Sheet that came with your specific hot tub. Some spas have different instructions on how to remove filters and where they’re located.

Next, place your filter in a bucket with water. Add 8 ounces of your filter cleaning solution. We recommend using Thermospa’s Filter Clean to remove all bacterias and mineral deposits. If your filter is especially dirty, we recommend adding 16 ounces of the Filter Clean.

Mix the solution in the bucket by turning and pumping the filter up and down. Allow to soak for 12 – 24 hours.

When finished remove the filter from the bucket and rinse off with your garden hose. Make sure to rinse well to remove all chemicals from the cleaner. Allow the filter to fully dry before adding it back to the hot tub. Damp filters contain bacterias that can contaminate your hot tub water.

Once a Year: Replace Your Filter

Filters are only made to last for about a year, more or less depending on use. We don’t recommend using your filter for more than 12 months though as the filter can become ineffective and leave debris and bacteria in your hot tub water. If you’re using two separate filters which you are alternating, you can obviously use both for longer, but try to keep track of how long you’ve had your filters and how many months they’ve been in use. When they reach 12 months, you should replace.

Special Tips:

When it comes to cleaning your hot tub filters, never use a power washer, dishwasher, or washing machine. The water pressure is too high for the filters and can damage the filter.

As well, do not use non-filter cleaning soaps such as laundry or dishwater detergent. Filter Cleaner is made specifically to clean your filter without contaminating your water or causing serious foaming issues. Stick to filter-specific cleaners.

If you follow these instructions, your filter and hot tub will last for years to come.

We’d like to remind our readers that we have a friendly and knowledgeable hot tub customer care team available to answer any questions you have regarding filters, ordering new filters, and filter cleaning products. Call Thermospas Customer Care at 1-800-876-0158.